Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is likely to start 20th on the grid after his qualifying session ended prematurely with a spin-out on turn 13.
Melbourne hope and young McLaren star Oscar Piastri failed to progress beyond the first stage of qualifying for his home Formula One grand prix by the most agonising of margins - just 0.046 of a second - and will start 16th on the grid on Sunday.
Perez had not even got a lap under his belt in qualifying when his front right wheel locked up, forcing him into the gravel and prematurely ending his Saturday, less than 10 minutes into the session.Hot favourite, two-time world champion Max Verstappen claimed pole position in 1:16.732, a track record at Albert Park, smashing the time Charles Leclerc posted to claim pole position last year when he clocked 1:17.868.
Mercedes finished strongly, with George Russell claiming the second spot at the front of the grid, just shy of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso grabbed fourth, from Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll and Leclerc.“We weren’t expecting that, that’s for sure. Wow, what a session for us,” Russell said. Williams showed it has some pace too, particularly in the second section, with Alex Albon qualifying eighth fastest.
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